OBS Chapter 25: Destroying the Game
Chapter 25: Destroying the Game
"Miss, what are you doing?" The steward looked at Xie Huiyi in surprise and couldn't help but step forward to ask.
Xie Huiyi smiled slightly, her eyes clear: "I heard that Lu Qiujun is very talented, and I want to give him a helping hand with money to add luster. I have no ill intentions at all."
The steward frowned, and he glanced at He Hongshen, and understood. This was clearly He Hongshen's idea, but it put the young lady at risk. He hesitated for a moment, but decided to report it truthfully: "This matter involves serious matters, I must inform Madam Gu."
In the bustling Yipinju, the crowd was bustling. On the top of the restaurant, the steward hurried through the crowd, his face looking extremely serious. He passed through screens one after another and finally came to Yicuixuan on the second floor, which was the private room of Lady Gu Zhiyi of Ningguo.
Gu Zhiyi was sitting by the window, holding a cup of tea in her hand, looking through the flowers outside the window, as if thinking about something. When she heard the footsteps, she turned her head slightly, with a hint of majesty in her eyes.
The butler knocked on the door gently, his voice carrying a hint of urgency. The door slowly opened, revealing a beautiful face. It was Gu Zhiyi's personal maid Xiaoyue. When she saw the butler, she was slightly startled, and immediately understood his intention.
"Madam, the steward wants to see you." Xiaoyue reported softly.
Gu Zhiyi put down the teacup in her hand and said softly, "Let him in."
The steward stepped into the doorway, immediately knelt down to salute, and then said bluntly: "Madam, something happened. The young lady...she added luster to Lu Qiujun."
Gu Zhiyi's eyes suddenly became sharp. She put down the teacup in her hand and asked, "What did you say? Huiyi has added color? Does she know what she is doing?"
The steward hesitated for a moment and replied, "The young lady seems to think this is a good idea, and... He Hongshen is also encouraging her."
Gu Zhiyi's expression suddenly turned gloomy. She snorted coldly: "He Hongshen? How dare he be so bold!"
"Madam, this matter is indeed very serious." The steward said cautiously, "I am worried that the young lady will be used by He Hongshen, or even..."
Gu Zhiyi stood up and walked to the window, her eyes deep: "I know you are worried, this matter must be dealt with immediately. Tell me the details first."
The steward nodded and explained He Hongshen's proposal and Xie Huiyi's reaction in detail. Gu Zhiyi listened, and her expression became more serious.
"Madam, this matter not only concerns the young lady's reputation, but may also affect the reputation of the Ningguo Mansion." said the steward.
Gu Zhiyi was silent for a moment and then said, "Perhaps he wants to use this method to consume Lu Qiujun's talent and let Yan Tinghan win."
Lu Qiujun stopped during the competition and asked questions to the judge, Du Yusheng, the principal of Bailu Academy, wanting to know who was adding color to his performance and how much color they had added.
Lu Qiujun stood in the center of the competition, and asked the judge Du Yusheng his questions with a serious face. Du Yusheng frowned slightly, his eyes were deep, as if he had expected this scene.
"Principal, may I ask who is adding luster to Qiujun? The amount of luster is so huge that it is unbelievable." Lu Qiujun said in a firm tone, with a gleam of inquiry in his eyes.
Du Yusheng nodded slightly, looked at Lu Qiujun, and asked in a deep voice: "Lu Qiujun, how much is your prize? Who is the one who added the prize?"
Lu Qiujun paused for a moment and replied in a slightly euphemistic tone: "Principal, I cannot reveal the name of the person who added the money, nor the amount. But I am sure that the amount is not insignificant."
Du Yusheng's face suddenly became serious when he heard this. He knew that such an amount would be a great pressure for anyone. He glanced around coldly, secretly angry in his heart.
At this moment, there was a sound of light footsteps on the stairs. Everyone looked up and saw Yu Jinghong, one of the four talented women, slowly walking down the stairs. She was wearing a lavender dress, with picturesque eyebrows and elegant temperament, which instantly attracted the attention of everyone present.
"Miss Yu, you are here!" someone in the crowd shouted loudly, and everyone followed her, and the atmosphere suddenly became lively.
Yu Jinghong smiled slightly, her eyes swept across everyone, and finally landed on Xie Huiyi. She said bluntly: "Everyone, the eight hundred taels of silver were added by Xie Huiyi, the eldest daughter of Ningguo Mansion."
As soon as these words came out, the whole audience fell silent, and everyone glared at Xie Huiyi. Xie Huiyi's face turned pale, and she bit her lips nervously, not understanding why everyone was so angry with her.
"Miss Xie, what do you mean? Are you deliberately making things difficult for Lu Qiujun and want Yan Tinghan to win without a fight?" Yu Jinghong asked in a serious tone.
Xie Huiyi cried with tears in her eyes, "Miss Yu, I...I didn't mean it. I just wanted Yan Tinghan to win, I didn't..."
"Miss Xie, don't you understand yet? Your behavior has violated the rules of the competition. The amount of added bonus is too large. How can Lu Qiujun afford it?" Du Yusheng said coldly.
The sound echoed in the center of Yipinju, crisp and cold, like the north wind in the cold winter, cutting through the quiet air.
"Xie Huiyi, why are you doing this? Why do you want to destroy the balance of the game at the critical moment?!" A trace of anger flashed between Yan Tinghan's brows, but a hint of pride could not be concealed in his eyes.
Xie Huiyi bit her lips tightly, tears welled up in her eyes, but she tried hard not to let them fall. She raised her head slowly, a hint of determination flashed in her eyes, but more of it was helplessness and sadness.
Xie Huiyi's eyes were full of tears, but she clenched her teeth and tried not to cry out loud. She gently wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes, held back her sobs, and said in a trembling voice: "Master Yan, I... I didn't know why I destroyed the balance of the game, please... please believe me." Xie Huiyi's shoulders trembled, tears slid down her cheeks, she bit her lip, trying to calm herself down, but still couldn't control the panic and helplessness in her heart.
At this time, Yu Jinghong slowly stood up from her seat. Her eyebrows and eyes were beautiful, her temperament was elegant, and her tone was calm but unquestionable: "Xie Huiyi, are you deliberately making things difficult for Lu Qiujun? According to the rules of Yipinju, if you disrupt the fairness of the competition, you should be banned from entering Yipinju for life."
The scholars around nodded one after another, echoing Yu Jinghong's words. Xie Huiyi's eyes became even redder, she pursed her lips tightly, tears welled up in her eyes, but she never spoke.
Du Yusheng, the headmaster of Bailu Academy, looked at everyone present with a sharp gaze, and finally stopped at Xie Huiyi. He asked in a serious tone: "Xie Huiyi, did you really do this?"
Xie Huiyi raised her head, helplessness and fear flashing in her eyes. She wanted to answer, but found that her throat seemed to be blocked by something and she could only make slight sobs.
Xie Huiyi cried with tears in her eyes, she was at a loss, she bit her lips tightly, trying to calm herself down. However, the scholars around her began to blame her, and some even pointed the finger at the Ningguo Mansion.